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Spreading the good news that cups are recyclable in South Africa to industry leaders and brand owners alike, Carla Breytenbach, Detpak Marketing Manager, joined the industry association Fibre Circle in a cross-country roadshow.

Established by the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (PAMSA), Fibre Circle is a voluntary producer responsibility organisation (PRO) that aims to facilitate extended producer responsibility (EPR) among paper manufacturers, importers, brand owners and retailers.

Fibre Circle (trading name of PAMDEV NPC) has been set up as a public benefit organisation that will administer funds and drive various projects to divert paper and paper-based packaging from South Africa’s landfills. It has also been registered with the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (formerly Environmental Affairs).

The Section 28 Notice published on 6 December 2017 by the then Department of Environmental Affairs required the paper and packaging sector to write and submit an industry waste management plan by 6 September 2018. PAMSA facilitated the submission of the paper and paper packaging plan while also submitting one under the auspices of Packaging SA.

BUSTING THE MYTHS

With talks in Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg, myths and preconceptions about the usage of paper were tackled, the first being about the perception that trees are killed to make paper. Paper is sourced for plantations, a harvestable crop similar to sunflowers or corn. Trees are planted, harvested and replanted, responsibly and sustainably, and in rotation. This is what makes them a renewable resource.

The issue of water scarcity is also a contentious issue. Commercial plantations are not irrigated. Instead they are planted in high rainfall areas, very often on hillsides.

While trees do consume water, they also release it back into the environment through their leaves (transpiration) and play an important role as water filters.

Trees are only planted where it is suitable and forestry companies we operate according to strict regulation, requiring an environmental impact assessment, water use licence and tree licence before  single tree can be planted.

Farmed trees also play an important role in climate change mitigation – carbon dioxide is absorbed by the tree and the carbon remains locked up in the wood – even when it is pulped and make into paper, and stored even longer when paper is recycled.

CUP RECYCLING – RECYCLABLE VS COMPOSTABLE

Carla spoke about the challenges and opportunities that post-consumer paper cups face and explained why cups are recyclable locally and not in other countries due to the investment into recovery plant like the Mpact Liquid Packaging Board Plant in Ekurhuleni which makes use of hydropulping motions to separate the fibre from the lining in cups and cartons.

The recycling of the plastic lining which makes up 3% of a cup was also discussed along with the layer of distraction and complexity that compostable plastics add.  It was highlighted that bio-based plastics such as Polylactic acid (PLA) are not recyclable and that, while displaying and performing exactly like standard plastics, cannot be recycled in the same stream but rather contaminate waste batches.  

CUP RECYCLING TRIAL ON THE CARDS

The new project of auditing and trialing coffee cup waste separation through the development of a specialized bin was launched to much excitement.  The aim of publishing a manual to aid businesses to become Liquid Packaging Board separation ready was announced.

DID YOU KNOW?

Commercial timber plantations only cover 1.1% of SA’s total land, yet provide for most of our wood, pulp and paper needs.

South Africa’s paper recovery rate for 2018 was 71.7%